Day Trips

Activities are grouped together by area so you can see the possibilities.

Of course, there are many more to choose from than can be listed here, but you can see that there are easily activities to keep a visitor here for more than a week. Our “Area” page will give you descriptions of many of the items listed.

Day 1 (all activities in the west end of town)

The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

International Wildlife Museum

San Xavier del Bac Mission

Hiking in Saguaro National Park West

Old Tucson Studio (children and old west enthusiasts will enjoy)

Day 2 (all activities in the east end of town)

Take a tram ride and/or hike through Sabino Canyon

Mt. Lemmon, Summerhaven, and ski lift (good hiking trails)

Pima Air & Space Museum

Day 3 (activities in the downtown historic district or central Tucson)

Take Frommer’s Old Pueblo walking Tour of Tucson’s historic district or the new El Presidio Tour

Old Town Artisans

Tucson Museum of Art

Tucson Botanical Gardens

Day 4 (all southeast of Tucson)

Make this a day trip and travel to Tombstone and Bisbee or choose one of these towns and also visit Kartchner Caverns near Sierra Vista (online reservations well ahead of time recommended)

Day 5 (all south of Tucson)

Stop at Tumacacori National Historic Park and Tubac

Visit the Titan Missile Museum

Birders and hikers would enjoy hiking Madera Canyon

Day 6 (northern area)

Biosphere 2

Tohono Chul Park (excellent tea room)

Catalina State Park

Day 7 (all within minutes of Hacienda del Desierto)

Take a hike, with goats doing the packing and meals prepared by a chef at Purple Mountain Goats (1/2 day, all day, several days by reservation)

Horseback ride at Colossal Cave State Park and visit the cave while there

Hike Saguaro National Park East (wonderful hiking and biking in the park)